Hydrant



Nov. 11, 1941. w. w. BOLSER 12,262,489

HYDRANT V FiledV Feb. 4, 1941 lPatented Nov. 11,1941

*'UNITED ,STATES PAT-ENT .OFFICE I used for thel connection ,of iirehosegand more.

particularly to `a hydrantin which `the valve is operatedfby hydraulic pressure from the Water main to which the hyrant is connected.` u

There fare many disadvantagesv inthe; types of re hydrants now commonly in use. glnorder to open the valve of such `a hydrant, `screw operated devices are provided whichmeven when in proper condition, require. considerable `time to open.` i 1;. `.l 1

As these screw operated deviceswfrequently become corroded, are frequently` difficult and sometimes entirely impossible to open the valve makingit necessary for re apparatus to abandon the use of such a hydrant and move to an-` other hydrant `in .the locality y 3 Italso happens that in extremely. cold weather thepvalve operating mechanism is frozen making itiimpossible to open thevalve. f

Thefoblect of the present improvement is, to provide ahydrant having a quick opening valve operated by'hydraulic pressure from the water main and adapted to be placedinoperative cone dition by a slight movement of vthe valve controlling mechanism.

{Anotherobject of the invention is to provide aghydrantin which the valve is opened by means oi "a `plunger orl pistonl located within van oil cylinder, the oil being forced intothecylinder by hydraulic pressure fromthe water main. i

` A further object is to` provide ahydrant `of this character having fa drain valve by means of which all moisture may be drained from the hydrant after'the same has` been used land by `means ofwhichmoisture from the ground may be preventedfrom entering thehydrant.

5 view through the hydrant taken asV on i 5v5; Eigure 1i;` Y

Fig. 4, a transverse sectional view through the improved hydrant taken as on the line 4`4, Figurel 1; I i

Fig. 5, a fragmentary transverse sectional the line Fig. 6, a` fragmentary vertical sectional View takenas on the line6.-6Fig. 5; i i Fig: '1, an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation of the check valve within the oil pipe between the Voil reservoir and the oil cylinder,

. taken as on the line 1 -1, Figure l;

A stm further `object is the provision of 'a hydrant having a valve arranged'tobe` opened rapidly" by hydraulic `pressure from the water main and to be closed more vslowly by spring Vpressure when the hydraulic `pressure is cut voff. The above objects together with others which willfbe apparentI from the drawing and following description, or which may be later referred to,`

may be attained by constructing the improved hydrantin the Amanner illustrated in the accompanying drawing yin which Figure 1 `isa vertical longitudinal sectionalV view throughva hydrant embodying the invention;-

Fig. 2, `a top drant;

Fig `3,a top* plan view :of the hydrant with thecapremoved; 1 y

planvi'ew` of the improved-hy-` 1 drantcasing or stand-pipe.

Fig. 8, a fragmentary vertical sectionalv-iew showing `thedrain for the cap portion of the hydrant taken as on the line 8 8, Fig. 3;

Fig. `9, a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the controlling: valve and drain valve taken as on the line 9-9,Fig. 4; and

i l`.Figi.,10,ya fragmentary sectional viewtaken vas on the line Ill-I0, Fig. 9.

Similar numerals refer to `similar parts throughout the several views;

The bottom casting l5 is providedwith a neck portion I6 for connection "to a water main in usual `and well-known manner. This castingv has atits upper end` an outwardly oifsetupstanding peripheral flange I1 internally threaded `as indicated at I8to` receive the-threaded lower `end of the` lower or underground section 'I9 of the hy- "This section I9 is adapted toextend` to the ground level where it is provided with a peripheralflange 2I` adapted to be connected, as

by thebolts 22 to a similar flange 23 uponthe Y upper. section"i24 of the hydrant casing or standpipe. i

`annular, flange 25 is `formed at the upper end ofthe section 24 and the annular portion of thetopplate 2-6 is received thereon and clamped between said annular flange and the flange 21 of the cap v28, bymeans of bolts 23, gaskets vbeing located between` the plate 26 and the flanges 25 and 2L t The lower end of the bottom `section I9 is in- ,ternally screw threaded as at3`l tov receivethe threaded periphery ofthe bottom plate 32 within Whichis formed the stepped valve seat 33 to accommodate the valve 34 which is provided withthe steps 35 and 36 having gaskets :il`

thereon seat.

The upper step of the `valve seatmay be in the form of `a ring 38 threaded into the bottom plate 3'2-fso'as` to permit removal thereof.

for seating against the steps of the valve 5l 'The valve iis connected tothe lower re-A duced end 39 of the valve stem 40 by means of a nut 4| which clamps the valve against the shoulder 42 upon the valve stem.

This valve stem extends the entire length of the hydrant being slidably located through the guide 43 at the lower end of the spring casing 44 within which is located a coil spring 45 having its lower end bearing against the guide 43 and its upper end against the pin or shoulder 46 upon the valve stem in order to normally urge the same upward to hold the valve vin closed position as shown in Figure 1.

The upper end of this valve stem is slidably located through the packing gland 41 at thev lower end of theI oil cylinder 48, and is connected to the piston 49 mounted within said cylinder.,r

The oil reservoir 58 is located in the lower portion of the hydrant casing or stand-pipeand the vertical pipe 5| is connected to the upper end thereof and the upper end of said pipe 5| is connected to the horizontal pipe `52 which communicates' with the short vertical pipe 53 communicating with the top of the oil cylinder 48.

For the purpose of adding oil to the system, a screw plug 54 may be provided in thevertical pipe section 53 and normally protected .by a screw cap 55 in the cap portion 28 of the hydrant.

A stop cock 56 may be provided in the pipe 5| and above the stop cock is located a check valve 51 vertically movable within the valve casing 58.

ThisY check valve has the tapered lower end 59 seating upon the conical valve seat 60 and is provided with a central bore 6| of small diameter.

A stop pin 62 in the valve casing limits the upward movement of the check valve.

Hose nipples 63 of any usual and well-known design are provided upon the casing section 24, preferably dual nipples of two sizes as shown with the usual cap 64 for closing the samef As shown in Fig. 8, a breather pipe 65 is connected to the lower end of the oil cylinder 48 and leads to the outside of the hydrant casing so as to permit an 'exhaust from the cylinder when oil is forced into the top thereof.

The three-way valve is provided for operating thel hydrant and is in the form of a conical plug 66 rotatable within a conical opening v61 and having the diametric port 68 located therethrough and communicating mid-way of its ends with the angular port 68.

This ValveV is normally in the position shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 9, and in this position the inlet port 10, through the bottom plate 32 to the interior of the bottom casting |5 is cut off while the angular ports 69 of the valve plug communicates with the port 1| to the oil reservoir 58, and one end of the diametric port 68 communicates with the drain port 12 which communicates with the exterior of the hydrant.

The valve plug 66 is adapted to be rotated by means of a rod 13 extending throughout the length of the hydrant and having a squared head 14 located through the top of the cap 28 to receive a wrench or similar tool for rotating the rod.

The drain valve for the hydrant is in the form of a vertically movable valve movable within the valve casing 16 and adapted to seat upon the valve seat 11 therein, the valve` casing 16 communicating with the drainport 12.-- e I An angular yhousing 41.8 communicates with the valve casin'g16 through aport u1,9, adjacent to the valve seat 88 in said angular housing, upon which the valve 8| is adapted to seat.

A spring 82 around the stem 83 of the Valve 8| normally urges the valve 8| toward the valve seat 80.

The valve stem 83 is slotted longitudinally as at 84 and receives the angular end of the link 85 carried by the lever 86 upon the rod 13.

The angular housing 18 has a port 81 in its lower portion communicating with the interior of the hydrant, between the port 19 and the valve 8|, when said valve is in open position.

A rod 88 is connected to the valve 15 and exreceived within the internally threaded nut portion 98 of the rotatable spindle 9| which is journaied within the stuffing box e2 and provided with asquared upper end 93 adapted to receive a wrench or similar tool for rotating the same.

A pin 94 is xed in one side of the'rod 88 and located within the -longitudinal slot 95 formed in the'cylindric housing 96 located in the cap 28, so as to prevent rotation ofthe rod 88 when the spindle 9| is turned, therefore,'caus ing the valve 15 to move down or up within the valve casing 16.

With the parts in the position shown in the drawingy the main valve 33 is closedpreventing water from the main from entering the hydrant and the valves 8| and 15 are open permitting drainage from the interior of the hydrant casing through the drain port 12 into the ground.

These Valves normally remain in this position although in wet weather the valve 15 may be closed so as to prevent moisture from the ground from entering the hydrant casing.

With the parts in the position shown, if it is desired to use the hydrant, the three-way valve 66 is moved from the position best shown Fig. 5 to a position in which the diametric port 68 connects to ports 10 and 1 I, this being accomplished by giving the valve 61 substantially a quarterturn in counterclockwise direction.

In this position of the valve 66 the oil reservoir 5D communicates with the water main through the intake port 1|), the valve port 68 andthe port 1| permitting water Apressure to enter the oil reservoir 50 raising the oil therein and forcing the o-il up through the 'p ipe 5| yand into the top of the oil cylinderI 48 forcing the piston 49 downward and through the stem 40 moving the main valve 34 downward away lfrom its seat permitting water to flow from the main into the hydrant casing.

One orvmore of the nipple caps 64 will, of,V

tion shown in Fig. 6, permitting the Water to drain from the lower portion of the oil reservoir 58 through the ports 1|, 68 and 12, and cutting off communication between the water main and the oil reservoir.

vThel spring`45 will slowly move the main valve 1 34 back to closed position as theil is forced back from `the oilcylinder 48 through the pipe 5| to;1 the @il reservoirV it.`

V `Winnen; the water has been exhausted from the oilr reservoiryandthe main valve l34 seated in closedjpositiomt the vacuumI will preventoil ifrwfdralling -from the Oil `res@W011i: f

i havingwanvalve seat therein; a vertically movable ACn'A Y Aathe three-wayvalve jis thus moved rbacia: to

` for admitting water pressure from the main to Y the'waterqingthe hydrant casing to drain into the ground. a

If it is desired to operate the hydrant with the less than the maximum ilow of Water from the hydrant, it will be obvious thatthis may be accomplished by opening the three-way valve, as above described, and then turning` the threeway valvehalf-way back to the normal orclosed main valve opened only partly, so as to obtain i position as soon as the main valve has opened to the desired point. i l

When it is necessary to clean out the drain valve, the spindle 9| is removed, together with the rod 88 and drain valve'l, and a rod may then Vbe inserted entirely through the hydrant casing and through the drain port 12, removing any dirt which may have closed the same.

I claim: Y f 0 l. A hydrant including an upright casing, means for connecting a Water main to the lower portion of the casing, a `bottom wall in the casing having a valve seat therein, a vertically movable valve arranged to seat upon said `valve seat,

an upright; valve stem connected to said valve,

a piston upon theupper end of` said valve stem, an oil cylinder in the casing enclosing said piston, an oil reservoir in the casing communicating with the oil cylinder, and means for admitting water pressure from the main to said oil reservoir to open said valve.

2. A hydrant including` an ,upright casing, means. for connecting a water main to the lower portion of the casing, a bottom wall in the oasing having a valve seat therein, a vertically movable valve arranged to seat upon said valve seat, an upright valve stem connected to said valve, a piston upon the upper end of said` valve stem, an oil cylinder in the casing enclosing said piston,

an oil reservoir in the casing communicating i reservoir is cut off.

3. A hydrant including an upright casing, means for connecting a water main to the lower portion of the casing, a bottom wall in the casing having a valve seat therein, a vertically movable valve arranged to seat upon said valve seat, an upright valve stem connected to said valve, a piston upon the upper end of said valve stem, an oil cylinder in the casing enclosing said piston, an oil reservoir in the casing communicating with the oil cylinder, means for admitting water pressure from the main to said oil reservoir to open said valve, spring means for` closing the valve when the water pressure to the oil reservoir is cut off, and means for draining water from the oil reservoir as the valve is moved to closed position.

4. A hydrant including an upright casing, means for connecting a water main to the lower portion of the casing, a bottom wall in the casing main valve arranged to seat Iupon said valveseat, an upright valve stem connected to said main valve, a piston upon the upper end oi said valve, steman `oil cylinder the'casing enclosing said piston, an oil reservoir in the casing communicat .Y ing with the oil cylinder, and a three-way valve said oil reservoir to `open said main valve, y r

`5. A hydrant lincluding an upright casing,v means for `connecting a ,water main to the lower portion of tliecasing,` a bottom wall in the .casing having a valve seat therein, a vertically movable main valve arranged to seat upon said valve seat, an upright valve stem connected to said main valve, a piston upon the upper end of said valve stem, an oil cylinder in the casing enclosing said piston, an oil reservoir in the casing communicating with the oi1 cylinder, a`

l reservoir as the main valve is closed.

6. A hydrant including an upright `casing, means for connecting awater main to the lower portion of the casing, a bottom wall in the casing having a valve seat therein, a vertically movable main valve arranged to seat upon said valve seat, an upright valve stem connected to said main valve, a piston upon the upper end of said valve stem, an oil cylinder in the casing enclosing said piston, an oil reservoir in the casing communieating with the oil cylinder, athree-way valve for admitting `water pressure from the main to said oil reservoir to open said main'valve, and spring means for closing the valve when the water pressure to the oil reservoir is cut off.

7. A hydrant including an upright casing,

means for connecting a water main to the lower portion of the casing, a bottom wall in the casing having a valve seat therein, a vertically movable main valve arranged to seat upon said valve seat, an upright valve stem connected to said main valve, a pistonupon the upper end' of said valve stem, an oil cylinder in the casing enclosing said piston, an oil reservoir in the casingcommunicating with the oil cylinder, and athreeway valve for admitting water pressure from the rn-ain to said oil reservoir tol open said main valve, a drain valve for the hydrant casing, and means operatively connecting said drain valve to the three-Way valve.

8. A hydrant including an upright casing, means for connecting a water main to the lower portion of the casing, a bottom wall in the casing having a valve seat therein, a vertically movable main valve arranged to seat upon said valve seat, an upright valve stem connected to saidl main valve, a piston upon the upper end of said valve stem, an oil cylinder in the casing enclosing said piston, an oil reservoir in the casing communieating with the oil cylinder, a three-way valve for admitting water pressure from the main to said oilreservoir to open said main valve, for draining water from the oil reservoir as the main valve is closed., a drain valve for the hydrant casing, and means operatively connecting said drain valve to the three-way valve.

9. A hydrant including an upright casing, means for connecting a water main to thelower portion of the casing, a bottom wall in the casing having a valve seat therein, a vertically movable main valve arranged to seat upon said valve seat, an upright valve stem connected to said main valve, a piston upon the upper end of said valve stem, an oil cylinder in the casing enclosing said piston, an oil reservoir in the casing communicating with the oil cylinder, a three-way valve for admitting water pressure from the main to said oil reservoir to open said main valve, a drain valve for the hydrant casing, means operatively connecting said drain valve to the three-Way valve, and means for closing the drain valve independently of the three-Way valve.

10. A hydrant including an upright casing, 10

means for connecting a water main to the lower portion of the casing, a bottom Wall in the casing having a valve seat therein, a vertically movable valve arranged to seat upon 'said valve seat, an upright Valve stem connected to said valve, a piston upon the upper end of said valve stem, an oil cylinder in the casing enclosing said piston, an oil reservoir in the casing communicating with the oil cylinder, means for admitting Water pressure from the main to said oil reservoir to open said valve, and a gravity operated check valve between the oil reservoir and the oil cylinder and arranged to permit a small amount of oil to pass therethrough when in closed position.

WILLIAM W. BOLSER. 

